On Tuesdays, the archery practice in the back nominally begins at 5:30, so I pick up Charlotte so that Bob can get home in good time to change clothes and set the target stand up. Last night I stopped at the grocery store with her on the way home because, quite frankly, we had nothing in the house for dinner. I figured I’d cruise the meat counter, see what sort of protein was on sale, and make it up from there. That was fine for as far as it went, but then I decided that I wanted some asparagus for dinner on Wednesday.

We found the asparagus, and Charlotte came completely unglued. She insisted on holding the bag – cuddled it to her bosom, as it were. I managed to pry it away from her long enough to weigh it and pay for it, but had to give it back to her to carry out to the car or there was going to be a scene. The lady in line behind me was quite amused.

She insisted on holding it in her lap on the car ride home. She had her right thumb inserted in her mouth, and her left arm wrapped around the bundle of asparagus. When we got home and I opened the car door to unbuckle her, I realized that she had begun trying to chew on the stalks through the plastic bag and told her “no – you have to wait until mommy cooks it.” “Cooks?” “Yes – mommy has to cook it before you eat it.”

When Bob opened the door for us, he didn’t even get a “hi” or a hug – she ran straight past him to the stove with her bundle of asparagus yelling “Cook now! Cook now!”

When it became apparent to her that I was going to put the chicken on first, she melted down entirely. Hysterical sobs because she WANTED HER ASPARAGUS. No other food would do – not milk, not Cheerios, not animal crackers.

Luckily we had some leftover broccoli in the fridge, and were able to placate her with that. I’m almost afraid to let her see it before it’s done tonight. God only knows what will happen.

Before I read this I would have said Victoria loves asparagus. Now I can only say she likes it a lot. A can of asparagus was my iron rations for when my then-2yo became the changeling child. Screaming hungry at the store, I could give her a slice of bread. But screaming hungry at home, for some reason bread wouldn't cut it. Speargrass though, oh yeah.

Sitto made a new recipe at Easter that was wonderful -- cover it with sauteed slivered almonds and parmesian cheese, then bake. OM-nom-nom!